Joe Perez said he heard throughout the season from the University of Miami baseball team that he was probably capable of starting and hitting in the middle of the Hurricanes' lineup this season as a high school senior.

A look at his numbers indicates it's not that far-fetched of an idea.

The Archbishop McCarthy third baseman and cleanup hitter led Broward County with nine home runs, an eye-popping 1.145 slugging percentage and 37 RBI — on top of throwing some serious heat when on the mound — for the three-peat state champion Mavericks. Perez is the Sun Sentinel's 2017 All-Broward small schools Player of the Year.

Despite hitting nine homers in 76 at-bats as a senior, it wasn't too hard for him to think of a favorite. In his final at-bat of McCarthy's regional quarterfinal win over Miami Springs, Perez found himself a homer away from hitting for the cycle. He got the pitch he was looking for and blasted it out.

It also turned out to be Perez's final high school home run. He missed the following four rounds of the Mavs' seventh title run in eight seasons after feeling a pop in his throwing elbow while pitching in an intrasquad game before the regional semifinals.

"I was in the dugout the whole time, screaming my lungs out just trying to get my team pumped," said Perez, who finished tied with teammate Adan Fernandez for Broward lead in doubles (14) and third in batting average (.526). "Doing whatever I could to help us win — if that was getting in the other hitters' or the pitcher's head."

Touching 99 mph with his fastball and combining it with a deadly slider and curveball, Perez struck out 40 batters over 18 2/3 innings and had a 4-0 record with a 1.88 ERA.

He plans to have Tommy John surgery performed by famed doctor James Andrews. A top draft prospect, if he doesn't get the figure he wants from an MLB team, he's happy to join the 'Canes. He could DH as a freshman next season as he stays off the mound, rehabbing from surgery.

"I'm perfectly fine with going to school," Perez said. "It seems like a really viable option, and an option that could really improve my career, and I'm excited to start."